The National tribune., 1887-02-03
Gire rhem Their nne.

F. NJ Titus Corporal, Co F, 7th Ind Cav,
Nashville, Tenn, says he is a soldier. the son of
a soldier. and the grandson Of a soldier, all of
loyal blood. He thinks it is very unjust. and
great hardship, 10 compel the soldiers to fur
nish so much proof in support of their claims
for pensions He is strongly in favor Ofjustice
| to the veterans Of the war.
John w. Moore. Detroit, Mich, says that he
has carefully watched the newspapers and the
proceedings of Congress for years, but has never
been able 10 find that anything was proposed in
behalf of the l2-months naval volunteers, who
were called for early in 1861. lie says these
men did good and faithful service. and he sees
| no reason why they are not as much entitled to
consideration as the soldiers who served on land
He thinks they should at least be compensated
for the loss they sustained in consequence of
being paid in deprecated currency.
DIR. +. l.. III. Barry. Assistant Surgeon, 130th
H., Jerseyville, ILL.,, says he feels keenly the
injustice that is being done by the Government
| to many of his comrades. Some of them are in
poorhouses drawing the magnificent sum of 81
a month, and many others have had claims
pending in the Pension Office from to 10
years. He says it does not seem to make any
difference which political party rules, the SOL
diers are neglected just the same.
Ii. ID. 0Brien, Major, LIST Mimi, writes of
! the important question now before the people
of this country of directly providing for the
disabled soldiers of the late war with Mexico.
| Nearly all Of these veterans have passed middle
| age, and there is need for speedy action.
Thousands of them are in destitute circum-
stances and rendered helpless in a greater or
less degree by disease and wounds, and are un-
able to obtain a living for themselves and fami-
lies. Under the present pension laws they are
unable TO furnish the required proof and can
get no help from that source. These men
should not be allowed to suffer- and something
ought to be done for their relief
| EDGAR A. BENTLEY WOlcOtt Vt speaks very
highly of Comrade Linehan, of the G.. A. X.
Pension Committee, and his great kindness
and good will toward his comrades in distress.
The writer thinks the pension laws do great
injustice to the class of pensioners who are dis
abled by disease. He thinks they ought to
stand an equal chance with those who are in
good health, but are more or less disabled on
account of amputations The pensions should
be rated according to the degree of disability,
from whatever cause.
"Skylight," Sergeant, odd Mass, Mansfield,
Mass, thinks the demands of justice require
that many of the officers of the late war should
receive something additional in the way of
compensation. On account of the very large
bounties which were paid to the soldiers who
enlisted during the last year of the war, many
of them actually received much more than did
the officers. The writer thinks this injustice
should be corrected. At the time the pay of
the privateS in the army was increased that of
some of their allowances. He thinks the mat
ter worthy of consideration.
l.. s. McNutt, Neodesha Kan says he is the
son of a veteran who is now dead and bro
Their sleeps in an unknown grave in the South
He feels that he has a right. when he consid-
ers the needs OF his widowed mother. to speak
on the subject of pensions. He thinks Con-
gress is too ready TO give large pensions to tho
widows Of officers, but fails to consider the
needs of the private soldiers and Of their wild
ows and orphans
A. Shufelt Co. II, 10th Ohio, Napoleon, o.,
writes of the suffering of Union soldiers in
rebel prisons and says he cannot understand
why Congress does not pass some law for their
relief. Nearly all of them are broken down in
health in consequence OF their hardshps and
privations, and he thinks them entitled to
compensation.
+. II. b. Martin, Caroline Center, n. Y, does
not think il wise for Congress to spend so much
time legislating upon private or special pension
bills when there Is such great need for some
thing TO be done that will give general relief.
He even thinks it would be good plan for the
Government 10 loan out some of the surplus to
soldiers and thus enable them TO settle upon
public lands and aid III developing the resources
of the country.
l.. ID. Daily, Brooksburg. Ind, says THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE is very highly priced in that
County. and he hopes it will never let up"
until justice is secured TO the old veterans of
the war
w. II. Jennings, Crookston. Mimi. thinks
that four years of faithful service in the war
gives him the right to opinion on the sub
jeet of pensions. He advises all the old soldiers
to read THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
John Ii. Adams. Co. L, 5Sth Ind, Buffalo
vile, Ind, says that when the Government
called for men TO put down the rebellion it did
not require them to furnish string of evil
dence as to sOundness, etc, but was only too glad
to accept the services of all who responded to
the call. He thinks the pension laws are very
unjust toward the disabled veterans of the
war.
L. ID. Anderson, Vernon, Ind, speaks in
strong terms of the obligations that rest upon
the Government to care for its disabled and
suffering defenders. The writer was not him.
self a soldier, as he was not old enough when
the war broke out, but he appreciates the sacri-
fees they made and the result they achieved.
He thinks that grateful people should see
that they do not lack for the means of comfort
able support.
L. w. X, Co. F, s0th Ind, Francisco. Ind.
likes the ring of the words of Gen. Hoyey,
Congressman-elect, in regard to justice for the
soldiers. He says the General is no more afraid
!. 10 speak out now than he was % years ago,
when he served so cOnspieuOusly in the war.
He says the most important question is not
how TO stop the flow Of money into the Treas
ury. but how 10 fulfill the pledges of the Gov
, ment to the soldiers
Daniel Cotfman, Sterling, Kan, thinks that
if Congress pays for few more Southern rail-
roads that were destroyed during the war it
will find use for the surplus in the Treasury.
lie thinks, however it would be much better
to use the money for the benefit of the men
who made it possible to have n surplus.
Sylvanus A. CrOwell Menard, ILL.,, says that
he realizes more and more the importance of
the soldiers standing together and insisting
upon the honest fulfiliment Of the pledges made
10 them by the Government.
VIM. A. Mathes, Bedford. Ind, complains of
the injustice and neglect of the pension laws
with reference to amputation. He lost his
right forearm. and Oh account of bad treat
ment is not able to wear an artificial arm. lie
was also shot through tho left hand. He feels
that the pension he gets is by no means proper
tionate to his disability.
+. j. LOvett, Co. L, 3Sth H., Cridersyile ILL.,,
gives history of his pension claim, which has
long been pending. He claims to have furnished
all the evidence required, and is yet unable to
secure an adjudication of his case.
S. A. Bass, Tooth n. Y, Manistee, Mich,
thinks that if Congress cannot do both imme-
diately. the equalization of bOunties ought to
have the preference over the pensiOning of all
ex-prisOners of war. He invites correspondence
from members of Co. c. Tooth ~ Y.
Jesse w. Scott, Co. +, 9Th ILL.,, Pekin, ILL.,,
fully agrees with those comrades who think
that the surplus in the Treasury could not be
used better than in supplying the needs of dis
:. | ahlad VIII f.at ,olI